Coking retort oven



Auge 16, 1932 J. VAN ACKEREN COKING RETORT OVEN 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 26

INVENTOR. /hrancefen,

Jas BY /Qw ATTOR Y.

Aug. 16, 1932- J. VAN'ACKEREN 1,872,612

COKING RETORT OVEN Filed Jan. 26, 1928 6 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Josep/7 Vanda/(femm B Y Aug. 16, 1932. .1..vAN ACKEREN COKING RETORT OVEN FiledJan. 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Il LI J.

INVENTOR. wakkert/7.

Aug. 16, 1932. J. VAN ACKEREN COKING RETORT OVEN Filed Jan. 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 /z//f//f INVENTOR. lose/a ifa/7 ,4o/eren M55, E932. J. VAN ACKEREN 17872,@12

GOKING RETORT OVEN Filed Jem..` 26, 1928 l 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ug my 1932 J. VAN ACKEREN 1&725612 COKING RETORT OVEN Filed Jan. 26. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. JS' ya@ be/Effi Patented Aug. 16, 1932 naires srsrss PATENT oserei;

JOSEPH VAN G'KEBJEN, 0F GYHARATWNSHIP, ALLEGHENYUCOUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,

. -ASSGNGR T0 THE KOEPERS GIVIPNY OF-'DELAWABE ACORPQRATION 0F DELA- 'WARE COKING Barona? OVEN Application led January 26, 1928. Serial 'No 249,5'2D.

"dy invention relates to colring retort ovens anc particularly o combination coke ovens Vof the Ycontinuous vertical type.

An object of my invention is to provide a battery of verticalv colte ovens having separate series of regenerators that may be respectively employed to transmit waste gases and'gas or air.

A further object of my invention is to provide a 1cattery of vertical coke ovens having two separate series of regenerators of which the one or the other ot the series transmits air or gas and the remaining onetransmits waste gases whereby there can be no counteriow between adjacent passageways carrying fuel gas and waste gases.

A still further object of my invention is Yto provide a vertical eolie-oven battery having two series oit regenerators which may be relatively low in height and in horizontal extension of a portion ot the oven 'structure and that may always be operated in a normal manner with respect to the direction of gases therethrough.

ln accordance wfth my invention, I provide a vertical coke-oven battery with heatwalls, each of which has an upper and a lower group kot iiame iues that are structurally and functionally independent of each other. Each of the upper groups of flame iues is provided with anupper horizontal flue and the horizontal dues of two adjacent walls are connected by cross-around fines. Each of the upper groups of iame lues is also provided with a lower horizontal flue that is connected to regenerators that are located on the respective sides of the cattery structure in horizontal extension of approxu imately half the height oi' the oven chambers.

ln a similar manner, the flame tlues 01"' the lower groups in each heating wall are connected to a lower horizontal flue and these horfzontal tlues ot adjacent walls are connected by cross-around dues. Each of the lower group of iiame fluo-s is provided with an upper horizontal iuethat is connected to a pair of regenerato-rs located on the one or the other side ot the battery structure.A

- From the foregoing arrangement of connections, it will lbe noted that the heating walls are connected in 'pairs and that the upper groups of flame ii'ues are 'connected in series wherebyheating gasespass'upwarc In one 'of the walls 'and downward in the other I wall. Similarly, the lower groups of r'lame liues are connected in Yseries and heatinggase ii'ow downward vinone of the walls andupward in the co-o-perating wall.

The regenerators, which,`as stated above, l

are oneach Vside of the battery structure, are

A'so' connected to the several seriesof groups of iiame fines that all ot the regenerators on one side ot the battery supply` air and gas simultaneously to the 'groups'lof flamed ai flues while' all ofthe reglenerators on the other side of the battery si-miiltaneously transmit waste gase's'rom 'the 'heating walls to a waste gas main. Upon reversal of the battery connections, all 'of' the regenerators p which previously transmitted waste gases now. transmit air and gas to the lseries of groi'ips of flame iiu'es -for' burning lin the opposite directions; I All 'of the regenerators on the other side of the Abatterywhich previ-A 'usly transmitted gasandair now transmit waste gases tothe corresponding waste gas lllaiil; i

By reason of the location and arrangement *of the regenerators' `iili'separate series on opposite sides of :the battery, there can be no countertlow between yadjacent passageways carrying fuel gasa'nd wastelgase's. Furthermore, all 'et the regenerators operate in a normal manner at all times with respect to the direction of gases therethrough in that gas and air are always admitted at the bottoms ot the 'regenerators are Vdischarged from the tops thereof while waste gases are always admitted at the tops of the regenerat-ors and are discharged from the bottoms of the same. o

My invention will now'be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view,'in vertical section, of a lbattery of continuous vertical coke ovens of tion, through one of the heating walls of the battery and the associated regenerators;

Fig. 3 is a View in horizontal section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isv a fragmentary sectional View taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, talen on line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. S is a sectional View, taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 7; l i

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the flow of gases through two co-operating heating walls when lean gas is employed; and v Fig. 11 is a view, similar to Fig. 10, illustrating the vlow of gases when rich gas is employed as a fuel.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a battery 1 of combination vertical coling retort ovens of the continuous type comprises a foundation 2 that is supported by a series of columns 3 and upon which foundation ismounted an oven structure comprising side walls 4 and 5 that extend the height of the ovens. Lower outer walls 6 and 7 are spaced from the walls 4 and 5, respectively, to provide a series of regenerators on opposite sides of the battery. A framework comprising buclrstays 8 and 9 is associated with the several outside walls of the battery.

Between the walls 4 and 5 are a series of vertical coking retorts or oven chambers 11, through one of which the sectional view is taken, one of the heating walls 12 which alternate with the retorts 11 appearing in this view with its vertical fiame flues shown-in dotted lines.

A superstructure 13 that is supported by framework 14 provides a supportfor a movable charging car 15 for supplying coal magazines 16 for the several retort ovens 11. Each of the ovens 11 is provided with a gas offtalre 17 that is connected to a gas-collecting main 18. Producer gas or other lean gas is supplied to the heating walls 12 of the battery through gas mains 20 that are provided with suitable regulating valves 21. Waste gas mains 22 conduct waste gases from the regenerators to the stack.

The structure surrounding each of the retort ovens 11 is supported by a hollow metallic frame 23 that is suitably connected to the foundation. Suspended from the frame 23 is a hollow casing 24 within which is located a power-driven coke-extractor mechanism 25.

A coke magazine 26 is Vsuspended from the casing 24 and 1s arranged to discharge its contents into a coke-receiving car 27 that 0perates beneath the battery.

Reference may now be had to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in which the details of the heating walls and the connections of the flame fines therein are illustrated. Each heating wall 12 is provided with two superposed series of vertical flame ues 29 and 30, respectively. The lower series of flame liues 29 of the heating wall 12 shown in Fig. 2 are connected to an upper horizontal liue 31 that is connected in turn to two pairs of regenerators 32'and 33 respectively provided with sole channels 34 and 35. rThe flame flues 29 are also connected at their bottom portions to a lower horizontal iiue 36. Each end of the flue 36 extends into a cross-around fiue 37 by means `of which the flue 36 is connected to a corresponding horizontal flue 36 in an adjacent heating wall 12.

rEhe upper series of flame flues of the heating wall 12 shown in Fig. 2 is similarly connected to a lower horizontal flue 39 that is in turn connected to two pairs of regenerators 40 and 41 that are respectively provided with sole flues 42 and 43. The tops of the iiame flues 30 are connected to a horizontal flue 44 which extends at each end thereof into cross-around flues 45 that are connected to a corresponding horizontal flue 44 in the adjacent heating wall 127 to which wall the lower cross-around iues 37 are also connected.

he foregoing system of connections applies to the heating wall shown in Fig. 2 and to alternate heating walls 12 of the battery, that is, t'o the corresponding members of each pair of heating walls. As is clearly indicated in Fig. 10, the other members of the pairs of heating walls are provided with a somewhat different arrangement in that the connections between the horizontal flues 31 and 39 and the pairs of regenerators 32 and 33 and 40 and 41 are transposed with respect to those of Fig. 2.

Accordingly, the regenerators 32 and 33 of alternate units are connected to the corresponding horizontal lues 31 while the other units are connected to corresponding horizontal flues 39. The regenerators 40 and 41 of alternate units are connected to corresponding horizontal iiues 39 and the other units are connected to the corresponding horizontal flues 31.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the battery 1 comprises, by way of example, five retort ovens 11 and six heating walls 127 although this number may be extended, if desired. The heating walls 12 are connected in pairs by means of the crossaround iues 37 and 45, the arrangement being similar at the tops and the bottoms of the heating walls. It will be noted that the horizontal flues 44, which are similar to the horizontal lines 36, are divided to provide a wall 47 of briclrworlr therebetween and each hereinafter' described.

l par invasie division of the horizontal iiues 35 and 48 is connected to the llame lues by ports 48.

As best shown in Fig` 4, the flame fines of the respective heating walls may be supp-lied with coke-oven gas or other richgas through gas guns 49 which extend from the top of the battery through the brickwork 47 between the divisions of the horizontall {i-ue 44.- An arrangement similar to that shown Fig. 41is provided at the botten-i1 of each heating wall whereby rich gas may 'beI supplied--V to the lower series of flame ilues in a man-ner to be Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the battery structure is provided with a series ot expansion joints 51 that extend transversely of the'batt'ery through the' walls 6 and 7, between the adjacent regenerator units, and through the side walls 4 and 5 into the oven chambers-ot the several coke ovens. By nreans'vot this arrangement, no combustible materials or waste gases are obli-ged to pass through theexpansion joints and leakage thereof from this cause is entirely avoi ed. rlhis arrangement is of advantage', also, in that the' expansionoii each unit comprising a'. syst-ein of re'generatorsand thecorrespond ing heating wall may be confined to that unit and such expansion is not transmitted to any portion of the adjacent unit.

As indicated by dotted lines in' Fig. 3, the regenerators on each side of the battery structure are arranged in pairs that operate in parallel. TheV r'egenerators 4() and 41 and their systei'n' of connections' will be'l described by way of exam-ple. The regenerators 32 and 33 are similarly arranged. Each regenerator unit comprises two pairs of yregenerators, the members of' eachpair being in side-by-side rel-ation andthe two pairs extending in alineinent with the heating' wall to which they are operatively connected.

The system ot connections for one regenerator unit is shown in detail inthe enlarged views of Figs. 5 to` 9, inclusive. It may be assumed thatthe regenerator unit is receiving gas and air to be supplied tothe corresponding heating Wall- The' sole flue 43, which, for example, is carrying air, eX- tends to the* bottoni 'of one of the regenerators 41., fr lateral duct 52 connects the sole flue 43 with the baseA off the companion regeneratorv 41 whereby" the soleftluey43 supplies air to the pairol iegenerat'ors -4'1ifn parallel.

The sole flue' 42:, which supplies gas tothe of regenerators 401iin" parallel, is short relatively to the sole'flu'e 43. AsY indicated inV dotted lines in' Fivgs; 5l and 7 the horizontal sole flue 42 is connected at its' inner end toa vertical duct 53 that extends 5to the base of' one oiit'heregenerators 40. A lat-V era-l' ductV 54 that is connectedto the vertical duct 53 extendsfhorilzontally tothel'eft above the s'oleVV thie- 43v andi's' connected by'af short oven chambers 11 are being supplied with coal from their respective magazines 16 and that the coal in the various oven chambers is invar'ious stages ot coking corresponding to the distance it has travelled from the tops of the' ovens, finished col-re being removed by.`

the coke extractors 25. lt may be assumed further' that the heating walls are being supplied with lean gas and that the direction of the flow of gases through the several passageways of the' heating walls is as illustrated in Fig. 10'. The several regenerators 32, 33, 40 and 41 are diagrarnniatically shown as single regenerators instead of pairs in parallel, since they constitute in eiiiect a single rege-nerator.

Fuel gas is- -supplied from the main 2O through the valves 21 to the regenerators 40 trom which the gas enters the horizontal flue 31 ot the second wall shown in Fig. 10. Air

is supplied through the regenerators 41 ot the'V i'lues 29' and thence downwardly .into horizontal lue 36. The hot gases then flow in opposite directions toward theends ot the horizontal flue 36 and into the cross-around iues 37 by which they are carriedfto the horizontal flue 36 of the irst heating wall shown in Fig. 10 to be distributed tor upward flow in the vertical flame flues 29. The products of combustion are received by the herizontal flue 31 and are discharged through the' regenerators 32and 33 in parallel to be car# ried to the stack.

ln a similar manner, gas and air are sup plied through the regenerators 40 and 41 ot the regenerator unit corresponding to the irst heating wall and the burning gases flow side ot the battery and that the waste gases* or products of combustion are exhausts througli adjacent regenerators on* l opposite side ofV the battery.V The directionfof gasesis thesame in eachih'e'ati-ng wall tor the twoV sets` of superpose'd vertical' Haine' lues' The directions of the gases in the various portions of the systems are indicated by arrows.

In accordance with usual practice, the direction of flow of gases through the heating systems is reversed periodically by suitable reversing means (not shown). Upon reversal, air and gasV are supplied by the regenerators 33 and 32, respectively, of adjacent units, while waste gases pass downwardly through the regenerators 40 and lll. The directions of iow of gases through the various portions of the systems are opposite to those indicated by the various arrows.

The operation of the heating systems of the pair of walls referred to above istypical of that of the three pairs of heating walls shown in Fig. 3. The various connections for the several pairs of heating walls are controlled simultaneously in order that uniform conditions may obtain throughout the battery. Accordingly, at any stage of the operation, air and gas are being supplied simultaneously to the several heating systems by the regcnerators on one side of the battery. Waste gases are passing outwardly through all of the regenerators on the opposite side of the battery. Upon rev rsal, the same conditions obtain except that the functions of the regenerators are reversed.

lVhen rich gas, such, for example, cokeoven gas, is employed as a fuel, the system of operation is somewhat differentby reason of the characteristics of the fuel. A. diagrammatic illustration of the system of connections when rich gas is used as fuel appears in Fig. ll', to which refer-ence maynow be had. Inasmuch as it is unnecessary to preheat rich gas, the regenerators ll0 and el are employed to preheat air which th rough the horizontal fiues 31 and that are connected thereto and the adjacent vertcal flame ilues and cross-around fiues 3.7 and lo to the horizontal flue 36 of the first wall and 'the horizontal flue 44 of the second wall. rI'he gas guns L9 at the bottom of the first wall and at the top of the second wail are open to admit rich gas to the corresponding portions of the flame iiues 29 and 30. The flan es of combustion resulting from the mixture of gas and air flow upwardly in the fines the first wall and downwardly in the upper iiame lues 30 of the second wall and out through the corresponding regenerators 32 and 33.

Upon reversal, airis supplied through all ofthe regenerators 32 and 33 and the gas guns that were previously operative are vclosed and those at the bottom of the second wall and the top of the first wall are opened whereby combustion occurs in the flame flues that previously were traversed by highly preheated air. In the operation just described, the gases traverse the several iues and passageways in directions opposite to those indicated by the arrows.

`While the latter arrangement does not provide for products of combustion to traverse all of the flame fines in either direction of operation, the preheated air that is passing through one set of flame flues in each of the heating walls is more highly heated by reason of the fact that the products of combustion of the previous operation are discharged through the regenerators at a much higher temperature. rIhe result is, therefore, that the preheated air upon reversal is of such high temperature that it exerts little if any cooling effect upon the flame flues traversed by the air before combustion occurs.,

F rom the foregoing, it will be apparent that adjacent regenerators always carry either waste gases or gas and air and accordingly there is no tendency for leakage between them as the pressures in adjacent regenerators are substantially equal. The provision of expansion oints between each of the r Generator units and the heating walls proe vic es that all of the gases may be transmitted.

through the system without crossing the eX- pansion joints, except through the crossaround flues.

'Ihe arrangement whereby. combustion occurs at the entrance end of the horizontal flues insures that there will be a very small dead space, if any, between the superposed series of vertical flame liues, the adjacent horizontal flue lcarrying hot products of combustion.

Accordingly, while the upper and the lower iame flues of each wall constitute portions of separate and independent heating systems, the heating of the wall is substantially continuous throughout its height.

rlhe arrangement of the regenerators differs from those of the known prior art relating to similar constructions in that the regeneratorsare always operated in a normal manner with the hot gases entering the tops of the regenerators and air and gas to be preheated always enter the bott-eins of the regenl. A coke-oven battery comprising a seriesH of oven chambers and heating walls therefor alternating therewith, each of said heating walls being provided with two superposed groups of vertical fiame lues that are respectively communicably connected in series with' the correspondingly disposed group in anther of said walls, and two series of regenerators respectively communicating with one of said group of flame flues, one of said series of regenerators being adapted to receive combustible kmaterial for burning in the respective series of groups of llame iiues and the other regenerators being adapted to discharge the gases of combustion.

2. A coke-oven battery comprising a series of oven chambers and heating walls thereforY alternating therewith, each of said heating walls being provided with two groups of vertical flame flues that are respectively communicably connected in series with the correspondingly disposed group in another of said walls, two series of regenerators respectively disposed on opposite sides of said battery and communicating with one of said groups of fines, and means for supplying combustible materials to all of the regenerators on one side of the battery-simultaneously for burning in the several series of groups of flame flues and for discharging the gases of coinbustion through the regenerators on the other side of said battery.

i 3. ln a colring retort oven battery, two cooperating heating walls, each of which is provided with two superposed series of vertical flame flues and horizontal fiues communicating with the flame flues of each series at their top and their bottom portions, cross-around iiues for connecting one horizontal flue of each series to a correspondingly disposed horizontal flue in the other wall and regenerato'rs communicating with each of the other horizontal flues in each vof said walls.

4. ln a colring retort oven battery, two cooperating heating walls, each of which is provided with two superposed series of vertical flame flues and horizontal ilues connected to the flame flues of each series at their top and their bottom portions cross-around flues for connecting the upper horizontal flues of the upper series in each wall and for connecting the lower horizontal yflues in the lower series in each wall and regenerators communicating with each of the other horizontal flues of each wall.

5. In a colring retort oven battery, Vtwo heating walls each of which is provided with two superposed series of vertical flanc flues, a flue for connecting end portions of the flame flues of each series, a passageway communieating with a connecting flue of eachr series and a connecting flue of the other heating wall and regenerators communicating'with each of the other connecting flues of the several series.

6. In a colring retort oven battery, two heating walls, each of which is provided with two superposed groups of vertical flame flues, means for communicably connecting an end portion of each of the flame lines of each group to end portions of a group in the other wall and. regenerators communicating with the other end portions of the flame flues of each group. i 1

7. In a coking retort oven battery, two heating walls, each of which is provided with two superposed groups of vertical flame flues, means for 'communicatably connecting one group'of each wall in series with a group in the other wall, means for transmitting combustible materialsto each series of groups and for transmitting waste gases therefrom.

8. ln a colring retort oven battery, two heating walls,each of which is provided with two superposed groups of vertical llame flues, means for communie-ably connectingV one group of each wall in series with a group in theother wall,` means lcomprising a plurality of regenerators for transmitting combustible materials to each series of groups and for transmitting waste gases therefrom.

9. ln a colring retort oven battery, two heating walls, the upper and the lower portions of each wall beingfpr'ovided with separate groups of vertical flame flues, means for connecting the upper groups of the said walls for operation in series and for connecting the lower groups for similar operation, and means for supplying combustible materials to the respective series of groups through an upper group in one of saidwalls and through the lower group in the other of said walls.

10. In a coking retort oven battery, two heating. walls the Aupper and the lower portions of each wall being provided with separate groups of vertical flame flues, means for connecting the top portions of the flame flues of the upper groups of said walls for the operationsof said groups in series and for connecting the bottom portions of the flame flues of .the lower groups for similarl operation, and means forv supplyingA combustible materials to the respective series of groups of flame ,flues at the bottom of an Vupper group in one'of said walls and at the top of a lower group in the other of said walls.

1l. In a colring retort `oven battery, two heating walls, `the upper and the lower portions of each wall being provided with separate groups of vertical flame flue's, means comprising cross-around ilues for connectingy the top portions of the flameflues of the upper groups of said walls for kthe operations of said groups in series and for connecting the bottom portions ofthe flame ilues ofthe lower groupsv for similar operation, a plurality of regenerators communicably connected to both ends ofy each series of groups, and means for supplyingV combustible materials to the respective series of groups of flame flues at the bottom of an upper group in one of said walls and at the top of a lower group in the other of said walls.

l2. ln a coke-oven battery, a chamber having a heating wall therefor on each of two opposite sidesthereof, each of said heating walls having a group of vertical liame liues in its upper portion and a similargroup in connecting the lower groups at the bottoms thereof, and means for 'supplying combustibleinaterials to the upper groups at an intermediate portion of one wall, and for similarly supplying the lower groups at an intermediate portion of the other wall.

13. In a coke oven battery, a chamber having a heating wall therefor on each of two v opposite sides thereof, each of said heating walls having a group of vertical flame flues in its upper portion and a similar group in its lower portion, means for communicably connecting vthe upper groups of .both walls at the topsthereof and for similarly connecting the lower groups at the bottoms thereof, and means for supplying combustible materials to the upper groups at an intermediate portion of one wall and for similarly supplying the lower groups atv an intermediate portion-of the other wall and for discharging waste gases at the intermediate portions of both of said walls.

14. In a coking retort oven battery, an oven chamber having two adjacent heating walls each having two superposed groups of vertical fiame fiues, means for connecting each of the said groups of one wall in series with the correspondingly disposed group of the other wall, regenerators communicably connected to each end of the respective series of groups of flame flues, vmeans for supplying lean gas for combustion in each of said series and means for supplying rich gas for combustion in each of said series.

15. A battery of vertical coke ovens comprising a series of alternate oven chambers and heating walls therefor arranged in a row, two rows ofV regenerators parallel with said row of oven chambers and heating walls on each of opposite sides of said battery and in horizontal alinement with approximately the lower half only of said chambers and said walls and passageways for operatively connecting said regenerators at their top portions to co-operating heating walls.

16. A battery of vertical colre ovens comprising a series of alternate oven chambers and heating walls therefor, each of said walls being provided with a plurality of groups of flame flues in superposed relation, a series of regenerators extending alongside the battery in horizontal alinement with approximately the lower half only of said ovens and said walls and means for communicably connecting each of said regenerators at its top portion to one group of said flame iiues at substantially the middle portions of the several heating Walls.

A battery of vertical coke ovens comprising al series of alternate oven chambers and heating walls therefor, each of said Walls being lprovided with a plurality of superposed groups of vertical flame flues, a series of regenerators extending along each of opposite sides of the battery and in horizontal alinement with approximately the lower half only of said ovens land said walls, means for commiinicably connecting each of said regenerators at its top portion to one group of flame fiues at its top or bottom portion, as the case may be, in substantially the middle portions of the several heating walls, all of the regenerators on one side of the battery being adapted to transmit air or gas simultaneously while the regenerators on the other side transmit waste gases simultaneously. e

1S. In a coliing retort oven battery, two separate heating systems Aeach of which comprises two groups of vertical flame fines connected in series, a fiue for connecting end portions of the flame flues of each group, a communicating passageway with a connecting flue of each group and a similar flue of the other group in the system, and regenerators communicably connected to each of the other flues of the several groups, each group of one system being in superposed relation with respect to a group of the other system.

19. In a colring retort oven battery, two heating systems each of which comprises two groups of vertical flame flues connected in series, a horizontal flue for connecting end portions of the flame flues of each group, a passageway connecting a horizontal flue of each group and a horizontal flue of the other group in the system, and regenerators communicably connected to each of the other horizontal fines of the several groups, each group of one system being in superposed relation with respect to a group of the other system.

r2O. In a vertical cole oven battery, al heating wall having two groups of flame flues in superposed relation, and means for supplying one of said groups with combustible materials for burning therein, and means for simultaneously and separately supplying the other of said groups with hot products of combustion, the supplying means being adapted to periodically reverse the directions of gas flow within the respective groups of flues.

21. In a vvertical coke oven battery, a heating wall having two independent groups of flame ilues in superposed relation, and means for supplying one of said groups with comtaneously with the aforesaid means for supplying the other group with hot waste gases and means for periodically and simultaneously supplying the latter group wits conibustiblematerials for burning in the opposite direction and the former group with-hot waste gases also inthe opposite direction.

23. A battery of` vertical coke ovens coni-` prising heating walls each provided with two superposed groups of flame flues, means comprising regenerators permanently in series with the upper group of flame flues for transmitting combustible materials thereto or transmitting waste gases therefrom aecording to the direction of flow through said flame flues and means comprising other regenerators pe 1manently in series with the lower group of flame flues for similarly but independently transmitting eombustihle materials to or waste gases from said lower independently and permanently connected in series with lower groups only'of said flame flues whereby, in either direction of flow through any group of flame flues, combustible materials may be transmitted to that group by a regenerator which has previously transmitted waste gases therefrom.

25. In a vertical colring retort battery, a heating wall comprising two superposed groups of vertical flame flues and horizontal y briclrworlr therebetween, horizontal flues in said briclrwork and respectively communicating with the flame flues of the upper and the lower groups and means for supplying combustible materials for burning in the one or the other of said horizontal llues and the flame fiues of the group connected thereto.

26. In a vertical colring retort battery, a heating wall comprising two superposed groups of vertical flame flues and horizontal brickworlr therebetween, horizontal flues in said briclrworlr and respectively communieating with the flame llues of the upper and the lower groups and means Comprising regenerators Communicating with each of said horizontal flues for supplying combustible materials for burning therein and in the group of flame flues connected thereto or for conducting waste gases therefrom, according to the direction of flow therethrough.

27. A battery of vertical coke ovens comprising a series of alternate oven chambers and heating walls therefor arranged in a row, said heating walls having flame flues, two rows of regenerators extending along each of opposite sides of said battery and Vsaid heating walls having flamer llues therein, two rows of regenerators extending along each of opposite sides of said battery communicating with the flame flues of said heating walls and in horizontal alinement with a portion of the height of said oven chambers and said walls, all of the regenerators on one side of the battery being adapted to transmit ingoing gases simultaneously while the regenerators on the other side transmit outgoing gases simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of January,

JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN. 

